Calculate GST/HST to add to a net price, or work out the GST/HST included in a gross price.
This calculator works both ways at once: it shows you what a price would become if GST/HST is added on top of it, and also what the GST/HST portion would be if that same amount already includes the tax - useful whether you're quoting a price, checking a receipt, or reverse-engineering a tax-inclusive total.
Adding tax to a net price is straightforward multiplication; extracting tax from a tax-inclusive total requires dividing by (1 + tax rate) rather than simply multiplying by the rate, since the rate applies to the pre-tax amount, not the total.
Formula (adding tax): Tax Amount = Net Price × (Rate ÷ 100). Price Including Tax = Net Price + Tax Amount.
Formula (extracting tax): Net Price = Gross Amount ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100). Tax Amount = Gross Amount − Net Price.
Example: At a 13% rate (Ontario HST), a CA$100 price excluding tax becomes CA$113.00 including tax (CA$13.00 in tax). Conversely, if CA$100 already includes 13% tax, the pre-tax price was about CA$88.50, meaning roughly CA$11.50 of that CA$100 was tax. (Note: this example uses a 13% rate for illustration - enter the actual rate for your province.)
Canada applies the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 5% everywhere, but several provinces have combined it with their provincial sales tax into a single Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). As a result, the total rate you pay depends on where you are: Ontario charges 13% HST; New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island charge 15% HST; Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut charge only the 5% federal GST with no territorial/provincial sales tax; British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba charge 5% GST plus a separate provincial sales tax (PST) that is calculated independently rather than harmonized; and Quebec charges 5% GST plus Quebec Sales Tax (QST) at roughly 9.975%, applied on top of the price (and in Quebec's case, QST is calculated on the price including GST, making the combined effective rate slightly different from a simple addition). Always confirm the current rate for your specific province, as rates can change and some goods/services have different treatment (zero-rated or exempt items).
Because the tax rate applies to the pre-tax (net) price, not the total. If you multiply the tax-inclusive total directly by the rate, you'll get a number that's too high. Instead, divide the tax-inclusive total by (1 + rate) to find the net price first, then subtract that from the total to find the actual tax amount - this calculator does both calculations for you.
It depends on where you are: Ontario is 13% HST; New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and PEI are 15% HST; Alberta, Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut are 5% GST only (no provincial sales tax); BC, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are 5% GST plus a separately-calculated PST; and Quebec is 5% GST plus roughly 9.975% QST. Always check the current rate for your specific province, as rates can change.
GST (Goods and Services Tax) is the federal 5% tax that applies across Canada. HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is a combined federal+provincial tax used in certain provinces, replacing separate GST and PST. PST (Provincial Sales Tax) is a separate provincial tax charged on top of GST in provinces that haven't harmonized. QST (Quebec Sales Tax) is Quebec's provincial equivalent, charged alongside GST.
No - some items are "zero-rated" (taxed at 0%, such as basic groceries and prescription drugs) and others are "exempt" entirely (such as certain financial, medical, and educational services). This calculator applies the rate you enter to the full amount and doesn't account for exemptions, so check whether a specific good or service is taxable before relying on the result for that item.
In Quebec, QST (currently around 9.975%) is generally calculated on the price including GST, not on the pre-GST price - meaning the combined effective rate is slightly higher than simply adding 5% and 9.975% together. This calculator applies a single flat rate to the amount, so for an accurate Quebec calculation involving both GST and QST, you may need to calculate them in sequence rather than as one combined percentage.
Registered businesses can generally claim Input Tax Credits (ITCs) to recover GST/HST paid on business purchases and expenses, effectively making the tax a pass-through for most registered businesses (with the end consumer ultimately bearing the cost). The specifics of ITC eligibility depend on the type of expense and your business's registration status - consult the CRA or an accountant for your situation.
Disclaimer: The information and figures provided on this page are for educational and illustrative purposes only and do not constitute tax advice. GST/HST/PST/QST rates vary by province and can change; this calculator applies the rate you enter without accounting for zero-rated or exempt goods and services. Always verify the current applicable rate and tax treatment with the CRA or a qualified accountant.